Dear MARMAM subscribers,
We are pleased to announce a new paper on stranding cetaceans along the Pacific
coastline of Guatemala over the last 15 years.
Ortiz-Wolford J, Corona-Figueroa MF, Dávila V, Cabrera AA. 2021. Cetacean
stranding records along the Pacific coastline of Guatemala, 2007–2021:
Implications for management, conservation and research. Marine Policy 134:104827
Abstract
Cetacean strandings constitute one of the most important sources of information
for studying cetacean diversity and obtaining basic biological data. The
Guatemalan Pacific Ocean supports a high diversity of cetaceans, with at least
19 confirmed species records. However, little is known about cetacean
strandings in Guatemala and their association with anthropogenic activities. We
reviewed the occurrence of cetacean strandings on the Pacific coastline of
Guatemala between 2007 and 2021. Stranding records were obtained from
publications and citizen science such as sporadic reports from third parties,
local and social media. In total, 39 stranding events from 12 species were
recorded over the 15-year period examined. Stranded species belong to five
families: Delphinidae, Kogiidae, Ziphiidae, Balaenopteridae and Eschrichtiidae.
The striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba, n = 6), bottlenose dolphin
(Tursiops truncatus, n = 6), spinner dolphin (S. longirostris, n = 5), spotted
dolphin (S. attenuata, n = 4), and humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae, n =
4) were the most frequently stranded species. For three of the stranded
species, the melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra), Blainville's beaked
whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), and gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), these
stranding records represent the first confirmed report of the species in
Guatemalan waters. Although we could not determine the cause of stranding in
most cases, at least 15% of stranded individuals presented marks or injuries
that could be associated with anthropogenic activities, such as fisheries or
vessel strikes. This study highlights the importance of stranding data and the
need to create a national network to allow timely response to stranding events
and to enable improved data collection protocols. A well-curated cetacean
stranding database is crucial for scientific research as well as to implement
management and conservation measures to protect these species in the region.
The paper is open-access and freely available here:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X21004383
Best regards,Andrea Cabrera
-- Andrea Cabrera, PhD
Section for Evogenomics, Globe Institute, University of CopenhagenØster
Voldgade 5-7, 1350 København K, 7, Building: 7.203
Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life
Sciences , University of GroningenNijenborgh 7 9747 AG, Groningen The
Netherlands
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